Selvage-trimmer



R. S. TROGNER.

SELVAGE TRIMMER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. e, 1918.

Patented May 24 19211.

ROLAND S. TROGNER, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SELVAG-E-TRIMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2 11, 19211.

Application filed November 6,1918. Serial No. 261,352.

T 0 all w 710m it may concern Be it known that I, ROLAND S. TnooNnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Akron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Selvage-Trimmers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates broadly to methods of and apparatus for trimming fabric and the like; and has particular reference to trimming the selvage-edge of a moving strip of fabric.

It is frequently the case that the marginal edge of the selvage on a strip of fabric-and especially that on socalled frictioned fabric used for making tire-carcasses and the like-is not straight, but is more or less undulating or sinuous; and, for this reason, it has been customary to trimthe selvage by means of devices in which the guiding and cutting means are movably arranged and relatively movable, and adapted to be actuated automatically to adjust the cutting means by the guiding means to accord with the undulations or sinuosities of the marginal edge of the selvage. In such instances, the fabric usually travels longitudinally, while the cutting-device is moved correspondingly but in a transverse direction. This involves a more or less complicated structure, an d one which. at best may not operate to conserve the fabric to the fullest possible extent. By my invention, the movable mountings of the guides and cutting means are dispensed with, because I have discovered in practice that by making a longitudinal buckle or wave in the portion of the strip of fabric adjacent to the selvage, the fabric of itself acts to maintain the marginal edge of the selvage against the guide so that it becomes practicable to use a stationary guide. Thus, the guiding and cutting structure is greatly simplified and, at the same time, operates with greater efliciency.

In view of the foregoing, my invention contemplates as its principal object a 'method which conslsts 1n producing 1n a moving strip of fabric a compressed or reactive condition therein, such as a longitudinally' extending buckle or wave-formation contiguous to its edgeor at least between its two edges or inargins and, thee trimming such buckled fabric along a line adjacent the edge or margin, reliance being had upon the buckle or wave in the fabric to maintain the edge to be rimmed in operative and active engagement with the guide which controls the cutter.

A more specific object involves the provlsion of a selvage-trimmer in which the guide is relatively stationary but functioning to produce in the strip of fabric a wave or buckle which is adapted to become an ac' tive :instrumentality to maintain the marginal edge of the selvage against the guide.

'The above and additional objects of a similar or analogous nature which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are preferably accomplished by, and my improved method may be practised in connection with, such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

IVith reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of structure for carrying the invention intoeffect, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numbers designate corresponding parts:

Figure l is a view in perspective of a structure built in accoroance with a. practical embodiment of my improvementf Fig. 2 a broken end elevational view, partly in crosssection, of the selvage-trimmer;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, to illustrate the manner in which the guide and selvage-cutter operate on the moving strip of fabric, the former to produce a fabric-controlling wave or buckle, and the latter to trim the same when held in engagement with the guide by reason of the wave or buckle; and

Fig. 4L is a view in vertical section of the guide and buckled fabric.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates a supporting-frame or stand; 11 a buckle-producing guide; 12 a strip of fabric; 13 a cutter; and 14: means for operating the cutter. p

The supporting frame or stand 10 is preferably provided at its upper with a lateral extension or ledge 15 on which th guide 11 is mounted.

The guide, preferably and as shown, is provided with a substantially vertical wall 16, a lip or flange 17 which extends laterally from the upper part of the vertical wall 16, and a. base-flange 18 which extends laterally from the lower part of the vertical wall 16.

It is often desirous and necessary to trim various widths of selvage from the fabric, and to this end I provide between the flanges 17 and 18 an adjustably mounted guiding wall 16 arranged to be loosely mounted upon the ends of a series of adjusting screws 16 screw threaded through the vertical wall 16. (See particularly Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings).

The guide 11 can be fastened on the ledge 15 by means of screws 19 which extend, through the base-flange 18; the lip 17 being provided with openings 20 which give access to the screws 19. The free end-portion 21 of the lip 17 is upturned to permit free movement of. the fabric into the guide 11. In the central portions of the lip 17 and base-flange 18 are provided registering slots 22 into which the cutter 13 extends and which are spaced from the vertical wall 16 a distance approximately equal to the width of the selvage 23 on the strip of fabric 12. As seen more clearly in Fig. 3, the rear half portion 24: of the vertical wall 16 is preferably ofiset from its forward half-portion in order to avoid crowding of the selvage between the cutter l3 and'the vertical wall 16 after the selvage is cut off the fabricstrip.

The cutter is preferably of the rotary type, and it is mounted on a shaft 2:") of an electric-motor 26 mounted upon a base 27 disposed on the stand 10. The base 27 is connected to the stand 10 by means of a pivot 28, and a latch 28, which permits the operator to tilt the motor and knife to move the cutter into or out of the slots 22. A handle 29 is provided upon the motor to facilitate in the tilting thereof.

Any suitable or approved means may be employed for moving the strip of fabric 12 past the selvage-trimmer in a uniform manner. In the present instance, I have shown, as such means, a part of fabriccalendering machine C, by which the fabric is drawn past the guides.

It will be evident that two selvage-trimming units (similar to that above described) may be used as shown in the drawing to operate independently but simultaneously when the sheet of fabric has selvage on both sides thereof. In such case a cross-piece 30 may be arranged to connect the ledges 15 for strength and support of the two units and to support the strip of fabric 12 in its travel through the units. When it is do sired that only one edge of the fabric be trimmed the opposite cutter 13 may be swung from its operating position by releasing the latch 28, and tilting the mounting 27 on its pivot 28.

It will also be evident that by arranging the trimming units along the path of the edge of the moving fabric, with the distance between the cutting edges ofithe knives at all times appreciably less than the width of the fabric to be trimmed, a reactive or compressed condition is developed in the fabric, and this may be in the form of. a wave or buckle (designated in the drawing '31) which is created adjacent the guides 11,

and the marginal edges 32 of the selvage will thereby be constrained to abut against the forward portion of the vertical walls of the guides 11, so that the width of the pieces cut off the strip of fabric 12 will always be uniform even though there may be undulations or sinuosities in the sheet of fabric. In other words, the tendency of the guide is to compress the fabric toward its medial line and this develops in the fabric a reactive tendency which may then be utilized, and which I do utilize, to subserve an important function. In other words, by reason of the wave or buckle produced in the fabric as its edge is moved past the guide, such wave or buckle has a normal tendency to effect a reactive force toward the guide and this is utilized to maintain the meandering edge of the fabric against the vertical wall 16 of the guide and the latter then accurately follows the.

sinuosities thereof so that its associated cutter effects an economical and uniform trimmingrof the selvage. It will be understood that the guide is so disposed in relation to the edge of the moving strip that it is somewhat within the path of the edge thereof: As a consequence of this, the selvage edge then has a. natural tendency to bear hard against the vertical wall thereof and this, in turn, has a tendency to produce a wave in the strip beyond the zone of its engagement with that wall. This buckle then has a reactive tendency and causes the edge to be maintained accurately, constantly and actively against the vertical wall. The cutter then performs its designed function of trimming the selvage along a line whichis substantially parallel, at all times, with the edge no matter how the line of that edge varies by reason of its inherent sinuosities. Thus, I have produced a method of handling fabric in such a manner that the fabric (or at least a portion of it) becomes an active agent to maintain itself in guiding relation toits guide whereby its associated cutter may trim only so much of the selvage as may be required or desired.

What I claim is:

1. The herein described method of trimming fabric which consists in effecting movement thereof and, at substantially the same time, producing a reactive buckle in the fabric contiguous to its edge, and then trimming such fabric along a line somewhat removed from the edge.

2. The herein described method of trimming fabric which consists in effecting its longitudinal movement and, at the same time, producing a reactive wave or buckle in the fabric along a line removed from its edge, and trimming the buckled portion of the fabric.

3. The herein described method of trimming fabric which consists in effecting its longitudinal movement and the presentation of its edge to a relatively stationary wave-producing instrumentality for causing a reactive buckle or wave in the fabric along a line removed from the edge and trimming such fabric along a line within the longitudinal limits of the wave.

4. The herein described method of trimming fabric which consists in effecting its longitudinal movement and the presentation of its edge to a relatively stationary wave-producing instrumentality for causing a reactive buckle or wave in the fabric along a line removed from the edge, utilizing the reaction thus developed in the fabric to maintain its edge in engagement with said instrumentality, and trimming such fabric along a line within the longitudinal limits of the wave.

5. The herein described method of treating fabric which consists in effecting its longitudinal movement and simultaneously producing therein a reactive wave or buckle at a point removed from the edge of the fabric and trimming off the edge.

6. The herein described method of treating fabric having a meandering edge which consists in effecting longitudinal movement of the body of the fabric and simultaneously producing therein a substantial wave or buckle in approximate parallelism with such edge and at the same time trimming off that edge along a line somewhat removed from the edge but following the general course of the meandering edge.

7. The herein described method of treating fabric having a sinuous or meandering edge, which consists in effecting movement of the fabric and simultaneously producing a pronounced wave or buckle therein substantially paralleling the meandering edge and trimming the fabric along a line somewhat removed from that edge but approximately following its sinuosities.

8. A method of trimming the selvage edge from a fabric, which consists in confining the edge to be cut at a point short of the minimum width of the fabric whereby the fabric will be buckled and one edge thereof always maintained in contact with the confining means efiecting longitudinal movement of the fabric, and trimming the edge at the point where it is so confined.

9. A method of trimming the edges from a strip of fabric which consists in confining opposite edges of the fabric at predetermined points, the distance between which is less than the minimum width of the fabric, whereby the fabric will be buckled or waved between these confined edges and the latter by reason of such buckle always maintained in contact with the confining means effecting longitudinal movement of the fabric; and trimming the fabric in proximity to the confined edges.

10. The method of trimming the selvage edges from a fabric during transit through a cutting machine, which consists in confining opposite edges of the fabric at predetermined points, the distance between which is less than the minimum width of the fabric, whereby the fabric will be buckled and its opposite edges always maintained in intimate contact with the confining means effecting longitudinal movement of the fabric through the cutting machine, and trimming the edges from the fabric at the point where it is so confined.

11. A step in the method of trimming the selvage from a fabric having undulating edges which consists in passing the fabric along a confiningmeans mounted at a point short of the narrowest width of the fabric whereby the fabric will be buckled and the undulating ed e always maintained in contact with the confining means, and trimming the fabric at a point short of the confined edge thereof.

12. A fabric trimming structure including cutter-mechanism and a wave-producing instrumentality juxtaposed to the cutter mechanism and operable to produce a buckling of the fabric along a line removed from its edge.

13. A fabric trimming structure including cutter-mechanism for trimming fabric, a. support therefor, and a wave-producing instrumentality operatively associated with the cutter mechanism on the support and active when the fabric is in movement to produce a substantial wave or buckle therein adjacent the edge of the fabric, whereby the cutter-mechanism trims the edge in approximate correspondence to the meandering edge of the fabric.

14. A selvage-trimmer including in combination, a stationarily mounted reactionproducing guide for the selvage-edge portion of a strip of fabric, and a cutter associated therewith for trimming the buckled fabric.

15. A selvage-trimme-r, comprising the combination of a stationarilv mounted buckle-producing guide for the selvage-edge portion of a strip of fabric, a cutter" associated therewith, and a pivotally mounted electric motor to operate the cutter.

16. A selvage-trimmer, comprising the combination of a stationarily mounted buckle-producing guide for the selvage edge portion of a strip of fabric, a cutter associated therewith, and means for driving said cutter.

17. A selvage-trimmer including a cutter, and a reaction-producing instrumentality associated therewith and with which a longitudinal moving strip of fabric contacts to develop on the fabric a transverse reactive force to maintain the strips edge in intimate engagement with the instrumentality for action thereon by the cutter.

18. A fabric trimming structure including a support, a wave-producing guide thereon for engaging a traveling strip of fabric having a meandering edge and whereby such fabric is buckled along a line in substantial parallelism with its edge, and a cutter-instrumentality associated with the guide to cut the buckled fabric along a line in approximate parallelism with its meandering edge, whereby a minimum of wastage is accomplished.

19. The combination in a fabric-trimming machine, of a support for a strip of fabric, a guide-member disposed on the support and positioned at a point short of the minimum width of the fabric whereby the fabric will be buckled in proximity to the guide and one edge of the fabric by reason of the buckle always maintained in contact with the guide; said guide being provided with an opening in proximity and permitting access to the confined edge of the fabric; and a cutter mechanism operating on said confined edge through said opening.

20. The combination in a fabric-trimming machine, of a support for a strip of fabric, a guide-member disposed on the support and positioned at a point short of the minimum width of the fabric whereby the fabric will be buckled in proximity to the guide and one edge of the fabric by reason of such buckle always maintained in contact with the guide,

said guide being provided with an opening in proximity and permitting access to the confined edge of the fabric; a cutter mechanism operating on said confined edge through said opening; and an offset portion on the guide-member to accommodate a portion of the fabric which has been cut.

21. The combination with a selvage trimming device, of a support along which a fabric strip is adapted to be carried; a guide member disposed in the path of the fabric at a point short of the narrowest width of the fabric whereby the fabric will be buckled in proximity to the guide and one edge thereof always maintained in intimate contact with a portion of said guide, and means for trimming the edge of the fabric in proximity to its confined portion.

22. The combination with a cutting mechanism for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric said mechanism including a rotary cutter and a drive therefor, of guide members adjustable transversely of said strip of fabric to confine said strip in a path of less width than the minimum width of said strip, each of said guide members being provided with a vertical wall ofl" set at its rear half portion to accommodate the selvage trimming, and a laterally extending lip on said vertical wall, said lip having in the central portion thereof a slot spaced from said vertical wall and designed to receive said rotary cutter.

23. A selvage trimmer, comprising the combination of a stationarily mounted buckle producing guide for the selvage edge portion of a strip of fabric, said guide having an adjustable fabric-engaging wall, a

' cutter associated therewith, and means for driving said cutter.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two substribing witnesses.

ROLAND S. TROGNER. 

